Proximity transmitters for wireless power charging systems

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are systems and methods addressing the shortcomings in the art, and may also provide additional or alternative advantages as well. The embodiments described herein provide a wireless charging proximity transmitter configured to intelligently generate waveforms of various types, such as radio-frequency waves and ultrasound waves, among others. The wireless charging transmitter may be used for providing energy to a receiver that is proximately located to the transmitter. The receiver may be coupled to, or may be a component of, an electrical device that is intended to receive the power from the wave-based energy produced by the wireless proximity transmitter.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/585,341, filed on Dec. 30, 2014, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/939,706,filed on Jul. 11, 2013, each of which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/861,285, filed on Sep. 22, 2015, which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Generally, the present disclosure relates to wireless charging. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to wireless chargingtransmitters.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices, such as laptop computers, smartphones, portablegaming devices, tablets, or others, require power to operate. This stateof being may entail having to charge electronic equipment at least oncea day, or in high-use or power-hungry electronic devices, more than oncea day. Such activity may be tedious and may present a burden to someusers. For example, a user may be required to carry chargers in case hiselectronic equipment is lacking power. In addition, some users have tofind available power sources to connect to, which is time consuming.Lastly, some users must plug into a wall or some other power supply tobe able to charge their electronic device. However, such activity mayrender electronic devices inoperable or not portable during charging.

Some conventional solutions include an inductive charging pad, which mayemploy magnetic induction or resonating coils. Nevertheless, such asolution may still require that electronic devices may have to be placedin a specific place on the inductive charging pad for powering.Therefore, electronic devices may not sufficiently charge or may notreceive a charge if not oriented properly on the inductive charging pad.

Accordingly, there is a desire for a charging pad with that allows forwireless charging without requiring a particular orientation andproviding a sufficient charge. As such, what is needed is a means fortransmitting energy through an alternative means for wireless powercharging other than conventional magnetic induction. Consequently, whatis needed are systems and methods for transmitting energy throughwaveforms of various types.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are systems and methods addressing the shortcomings inthe art, and may also provide additional or alternative advantages aswell. The embodiments described herein provide a wireless chargingproximity transmitter configured to intelligently generate and transmitwaveforms of various types, such as radio-frequency waves and ultrasoundwaves, among others. The wireless charging transmitter may be used forproviding energy to a receiver that is proximately located to thetransmitter. The receiver may be associated with, coupled to, and/or maybe a component of, an electrical device that is intended to receive thepower from the wave-based energy produced by the wireless proximitytransmitter for operating the electrical device and/or charging itsbattery.

In one embodiment, a wireless charging proximity transmitter comprisesan array of one or more antennas; and a surface layer proximate to thearray of antennas, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit oneor more power waves to a receiver in response to a device associatedwith the receiver being within a proximity threshold of the surfacelayer of the proximity transmitter. Depending on the distance of thesurface layer from the array of antennas and on other system parameters,the waves may exhibit varying levels of convergence. For example thewaves may converge to form a pocket of energy at the surface layer, orthey may loosely converge to form a general area at or near the surfacelayer in which the power waves are present.

In another embodiment, a wireless charging proximity transmittercomprises a housing comprising: an upper surface layer; a lower surfacelayer; at least one side wall extending from the lower surface layer tothe upper surface layer; an array of one or more antennas positionedbetween the lower surface layer and the upper surface layer; and acontroller configured to transmit one or more power waves from the arrayof one or more antennas, the one or more power waves transmitted toconverge at a location of a device associated with a receiver uponidentifying the device within a proximity threshold from a portion ofthe upper surface layer of the proximity transmitter. Depending on thedistance of the surface layer from the array of antennas and on othersystem parameters, the waves may exhibit varying levels of convergence.For example the waves may converge to form a pocket of energy at thesurface layer, or they may loosely converge to form a general area at ornear the surface layer in which the power waves are present.

In another embodiment, a transmitter device for wireless power charging,the transmitter comprising: an interface of a type of connectionconfigured to couple to a computing device at a corresponding interfaceof the type of connection of the computing device, and to receiveelectrical current from the computing device via the correspondinginterface of the computing device; and a first set of one or moreantennas configured to transmit one or more power waves to the receiverwhen the device associated with the receiver is within a proximitythreshold to the transmitter. Communications signals from the receiverindicating a location of the receiver with respect to the transmittermay indicate physical location, such as distance and direction, orrelative location expressed in a coordinate system, or alternatively mayindicate only proximity as may be expressed as distance, power level, orother measurement.

In another embodiment, a method of wireless charging, the methodcomprising: receiving, by a proximity transmitter comprising aninterface configured to couple the proximity transmitter at acorresponding interface of a computing device, electric current from acomputing device via a corresponding interface between the computingdevice and the interface transmitter device; and transmitting, by afirst set of one or more antennas of the proximity transmitter, one ormore power waves at a direction of a device associated with a receiverwhen the device associated with the receiver is a distance from theproximity transmitter satisfying a proximity threshold.

Numerous other aspects, features and benefits of the present disclosuremay be made apparent from the following detailed description takentogether with the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and maynot be drawn to scale. Unless indicated as representing prior art, thefigures represent aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless charging proximity transmittertransmitting one or more power waves such that the one or more powerwaves converge in a three dimensional space to form one or more pocketsof energy, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a charging proximity transmitter comprising anantenna array positioned on a top of the proximity transmitter, inaccordance with an embodiment the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic diagram of a charging proximitytransmitter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic diagram of a charging proximitytransmitter with a sensor, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4A illustrates a flowchart of a method of operating a chargingproximity transmitter with a device sensor, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B illustrates a flowchart of a method of operating a chargingproximity transmitter with a living tissue sensor, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a charging proximity transmitter comprising asidewall with an antenna array, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a charging proximity transmitter transmitting one ormore power waves such that the one or more power waves converge in athree dimensional space to form one or more pockets of energy, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a system for wireless power charging according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are enlarged, perspective views of the exemplaryproximity transmitter shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows components of a proximity transmitter device, according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a wireless charging system, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, whichmay not be to scale or to proportion, similar symbols typically identifysimilar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrativeembodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claimsare not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used and/or andother changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a proximity transmitter 100 transmitting one or morepower waves such that the one or more power waves converge in a threedimensional space to form one or more pockets of energy, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure. A proximity transmitter100 comprises a housing 102 defined via a plurality of sidewalls 104, atop 106, and a bottom 108. The top 106 extends over the bottom 108. Thesidewalls 104 span between the top 106 and the bottom 108. At least oneof the sidewalls 104, the top 106, or the bottom 108 includes a surfacelayer, whether internal to the housing 102 or external to the housing102. The surface layer may be any size. For example, the surface layercan be 6 inches in length, 1 inch in height, and 0.5 inch thick(6″×1″×0.5″), but nearly any other combination of sizes may possible.Moreover, the surface layer and other components of the proximitytransmitter 100 can be of any shape or combination of shapes. Forexample, the surface layer or other component can be shaped as arectangle, a triangle, a circle, an oval, a trapezoid, a parallelogram,or any other two dimensional (2D) shape. As another example, the top 106can comprise an upper squared surface layer and the bottom 108 canhaving a rectangular shape that is comparatively broader and wider thanthe squared shape of the top 106.

The housing 102 comprises plastic, but can comprise at least one othermaterial, whether additionally or alternatively, such as wood, metal,rubber, glass, or others. The housing 102 has a shape of a cube, butother shapes are possible, such as a cuboid, a sphere, a hemisphere, adome, a cone, a pyramid, or any other polygonal shape, whether having anopen-shape or a closed-shape. In some embodiments, the housing 102 is atleast one of waterproof, water-repellant, or water-resistant.

The housing 102 houses various components of a transmitter 100, whichtransmits one or more controlled radio frequency (RF) waves in at leastone direction. However, note that an omnidirectional transmission ispossible as well. The RF waves may converge at a particular location inspace. The RF waves may be controlled through phase and/or relativeamplitude adjustments to form constructive and destructive interferencepatterns (pocket-forming) at specific locations in space. Accordingly,one or more pockets of energy 110 are generated by forming constructiveinterference patterns, whereas null-spaces may be generated by formingdestructive interference patterns. Therefore, if a device 112 comprisesa receiver, then the receiver may interface with the one or more pocketsof energy 110 generated by the transmitter and thus effectively receivewireless power transmission from the transmitter 100.

The proximity transmitter 100 may transmit or broadcast power waves tothe receiver associated with the device 112. Although some embodimentsdisclosed herein describe one or more power waves as radio frequency(RF) waves, power waves may be other types of waves capable of carryingenergy, capable of being propagated through space, and capable of beingconverted into a source of electrical energy. The transmitter maytransmit the power waves as a single collective of power waves directedat the receiver. In some embodiments, one or more transmitters maytransmit a plurality of power waves that are propagated in multipledirections and may deflect off of physical obstructions, such as walls.The power waves may converge at a location in 3D space, forming the oneor more pockets of energy 110. The receiver of the device 112, whetherwithin a boundary of or via interfacing with the one or more pockets ofenergy 110, may capture and covert the power waves into a useable sourceof energy. The transmitter may control pocket-forming based on phaseand/or relative amplitude adjustments of power waves, to formconstructive interference patterns.

Depending on the distance of the surface layer from the antennas orarray of antennas, as well as other potential system parameters, thepower waves may exhibit varying levels of convergence, or sometime noneat all. For example, the power waves may converge to form a pocket ofenergy 110 at the surface layer, or the power waves may loosely convergeto form a general area at or near the surface layer in which the powerwaves are present. In some implementations, the device may receive asufficient collection of waves directed at the receiver that thereceiver may receive enough energy to charge the electronic devicewithout requiring the power waves to form a constructive interferencepattern or form a pocket of energy 110.

Although some embodiments recite a use of RF wave transmissiontechniques, the wireless charging techniques should not be limited to RFwave transmission techniques. Rather, possible wireless chargingtechniques may include any number of alternative or additionaltechniques for transmitting energy to a receiver converting thetransmitted energy to electrical power. Non-limiting exampletransmission techniques for energy that can be converted by a receivingdevice into electrical power may include: ultrasound, microwave, laserlight, infrared, or other forms of electromagnetic energy ornon-electromagnetic energy. In the case of ultrasound, for example, oneor more transducer elements may be disposed so as to form a transducerarray that transmits ultrasound waves toward a receiving device thatreceives the ultrasound waves and converts them to electrical power. Inaddition, although a transmitter can be shown as a single unitcomprising potentially multiple transmitters (transmit array), both forRF transmission of power and for other power transmission methodsmentioned in this paragraph, the transmit arrays can comprise multipletransmitters that are physically spread around a room rather than beingin a compact regular structure.

The transmitter includes an antenna array where the antennas are usedfor sending the power waves. The surface layer can be proximate to thearray of antennas. For example, the array of antennas can be positionedbetween the lower rectangular surface layer and the upper rectangularsurface layer and along a plane parallel to the lower rectangularsurface and the upper rectangular surface. Each antenna sends powertransmission waves where the transmitter applies a different phase andamplitude to the signal transmitted from different antennas. Similar tothe formation of pockets of energy, the transmitter can form a phasedarray of delayed versions of the signal to be transmitted, applydifferent amplitudes to the delayed versions of the signal, and send thesignals from appropriate antennas. For a sinusoidal waveform, such as anRF signal, ultrasound, microwave, or other periodic signal, delaying thesignal is analogous to applying a phase shift to the signal.

The one or more pockets of energy 110 may be formed by creatingconstructive interference patterns of power waves transmitted by thetransmitter. For example, the transmitter can be configured to transmitpower waves which can converge in a constructive interference pattern atthe surface layer of the housing 102. For example, the constructiveinterference pattern is formed at the surface layer of the housing 102or the constructive interference pattern is formed proximate to thesurface layer of the housing 102. The pockets of energy 110 may manifestfrom the constructive interference pattern as a three-dimensional fieldwhere energy may be harvested by the receiver located within the pocketof energy 110. The pocket of energy 110 produced by transmitter duringpocket-forming may be harvested by the receiver, converted to anelectrical current, and then provided to the device 112 associated withthe receiver. In some embodiments, there may be multiple transmitters.In some embodiments, a subset of the antennas of the antenna array cantransmit the power waves to a receiver on the surface layer of thehousing 102. In some embodiments, the subset of the antennas of thearray that transmit the power waves to the receiver on the surface layerof the housing 102 are directly below the receiver. In some embodiments,at least one antenna of the subset of the antennas of the array thattransmit the power waves to the receiver on the surface layer of thehousing 102 is not directly below the receiver. In some embodiments, thereceiver is located externally to the device 112, and may be connectedto the device 112 through one or more wires or otherwise attached to thedevice 112. For instance, the receiver may be situated in an externalcase that is permanently or removably attached to the device 112,thereby forming a connection with the device 112 that allows the device112 to receive power from the receiver. Note that the power waves cancomprise waves of various types, such as RF waves, ultrasound waves,microwaves, or others. In addition, in embodiments where RF waves areused, it should be appreciated that most any frequency for the waves maybe used, including the range of roughly 900 MHz to roughly 100 GHz. Forinstance, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the power wavesmay be transmitted using nearly any industrial, scientific, and medical(ISM) radio band, such as 900 MHZ, 2.4 GHZ, 5 GHz, 24 GHz, or more.

Note that although the device 112 is a tablet computer, any type of anydevice, which comprises the receiver, can be placed on the housing 102.Further, note that although the device 112 is positioned centrally onthe top 106 of the housing 102, the device 112 can be positionedanywhere on the housing 102 or in a local proximity of the housing 102,such as within about twelve (12) inches or less from the housing 102 inorder to charge wirelessly. In some embodiments, the housing 102comprises at least two transmitters.

FIG. 2 illustrates a proximity transmitter 100 comprising an antennaarray positioned on a top of the proximity transmitter 100, inaccordance with an embodiment the present disclosure. The top 106comprises an array of antenna elements 114, which can operate as asingle antenna. Note that the array of antenna elements 114 includes atleast one antenna element, but array may comprise any number of antennaelements 114. The top 106 may comprise any number of arrays. In theexemplary embodiment, the top 106 comprises a single array of antennaelements 114. The array of antenna elements 114 may be embedded into thestructure of the top 106 or may be coupled to the top 106, which can beaccomplished through any permanent or removable means, such as mating orfastening. The array of antenna elements 114 are part of the transmitter100, such that the array of antenna elements 114 transmit one or more RFwaves, as described herein. In some embodiments, a transmitter 100 maycomprise multiple physically distinct arrays of antenna elements 114,and may manage and feed power to each of the arrays. In yet otherembodiments, the antenna elements may be located in, along, adjacent toor aligned with one or more sidewalls 104.

In operation, one or more pockets of energy 110 may be formed bycreating constructive interference where the power transmission wavesadd constructively to form a pocket of energy within close proximity tothe transmitter 100. In some instances, the proximity is such that theconstructive interference patterns may not accumulate to form a pocketof energy. But in such instances, the proximity transmitter 100 may beconfigured to provide additional power waves to the receiver so that thereceiver can receive and rectify enough energy for the electronic devicecoupled to the receiver. Through a separate communication channel fromthe power transmission waves, using any number of wirelesscommunications protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, ZigBee®) the receiverand transmitter 100 may continually communicate the power levels beingreceived by the receiver and the power levels required by the electricaldevice, to continually adjust which, if any, of the antennas should betransmitting power waves and how much energy those waves should contain.

Around pockets of energy, or at particular locations in space wherepockets of energy are undesired, the proximity transmitter 100 maygenerate and transmit power waves that result in one or moretransmission nulls, which may be generated by creating destructiveinterference patterns. A transmission null in a particular physicallocation may refer to areas or regions of space where pockets of energydo not form because of destructive interference patterns of powertransmission waves. In some embodiments, the housing 102 contains aninterior space, where one or more antennas or antenna elements arepositioned. In some embodiments, the array of antenna elements 114 canbe at least partially invisible, such as via being positioned underneathan outermost surface of the top 106. However, in some embodiments, thearray of antenna elements 114 can be at least partially visible, such asvia being positioned on top of the outermost surface of the top 106.

FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic diagram of a proximity transmitter 300a, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Aschematic diagram depicts a proximity transmitter 300A capable ofbroadcasting wireless power waves, which may be RF waves, for wirelesspower transmission, as described herein. The transmitter 300A may beresponsible for performing tasks related to transmitting power waves,which may include pocket-forming, adaptive pocket-forming, and multiplepocket-forming. The transmitter 300A includes one or more antennaelements 302, one or more RFICs 304, one or more controllers 306, andone or more power sources 308. The transmitter 300A can include ahousing or an enclosure to house or enclose the one or more antennaelements 302, the one or more RFICs 304, and the one or more controllers306. In some embodiments, the housing or the enclosure houses orencloses the one or more power sources 308. The housing or the enclosurecan be made of any suitable material which may allow for signal or wavetransmission and/or reception, for example plastic or hard rubber. Thevarious components of the transmitter 300A may comprise, and/or may bemanufactured using, meta-materials, micro-printing of circuits,nano-materials, and the like.

The one or more antenna elements 302 can be structured as the array ofantenna elements 114, as described herein. At least one antenna elementof the antenna elements 302 can be used to transmit one or more powerwaves. In some embodiments, all of the array of the antenna elements 114is used to transmit one or more power waves.

The one or more RFICs 304 is configured to control production andtransmission of the power waves based on information related to powertransmission and pocket-forming. The one or more RFICs 304 mayautomatically adjust the phase and/or relative magnitudes of the powerwaves as needed. Pocket-forming is accomplished by the transmitter 300Atransmitting the power waves in a manner that forms constructiveinterference patterns.

The one or more controllers 306 may comprise a processor running orhaving an ARM and/or a DSP architecture. ARM is a family of generalpurpose microprocessors based on a reduced instruction set computing(RISC). A digital signal processing (DSP) is a general purpose signalprocessing chip or technique which may provide a mathematicalmanipulation of an information signal to modify or improve the signal insome way, and can be characterized by the representation of discretetime, discrete frequency, and/or other discrete domain signals by asequence of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. DSPmay measure, filter, and/or compress continuous real-world analogsignals. The first step may be conversion of the signal from an analogto a digital form, by sampling and then digitizing it using ananalog-to-digital converter (ADC), which may convert the analog signalinto a stream of discrete digital values. The one or more controllers306 may also run Linux and/or any other operating system. The one ormore controllers 306 may also be connected to Wi-Fi in order to provideinformation through a network.

The one or more controllers 306 may control a variety of features of theone or more RFICs 304, such as, time emission of pocket-forming,direction of the pocket-forming, bounce angle, power intensity and thelike. Furthermore, the one or more controllers 306 may control multiplepocket-forming over multiple receivers or over a single receiver. Forexample, the controller 306 can be configured to transmit one or morepower waves from the array of antennas that converges in a constructiveinterference pattern at the upper rectangular surface layer of thehousing 102 of the proximity transmitter 100 upon a receiver beingplaced upon the upper rectangular surface layer. The proximitytransmitter 300A may allow distance discrimination of wireless powertransmission.

The one or more power sources 308 power the transmitter 300A. The one ormore power sources 308 may include AC or DC power supply. Voltage,power, and current intensity provided by the one or more power sources308 may vary in dependency with the required power to be transmitted.Conversion of power to radio signal may be managed by the one or morecontroller 306 and carried out by the one or more RFICs 304 that mayutilize a plurality of methods and components to produce radio signalsin a wide variety of frequencies, wavelength, intensities, and otherfeatures. As an illustrative use of a variety of methods and componentsfor radio signal generation, oscillators and piezoelectric crystals maybe used to create and change radio frequencies in different antennaelements 114. In addition, a variety of filters may be used forsmoothing signals or for shaping frequency spectrum of the signal aswell as amplifiers for increasing power to be transmitted. Thetransmitter 300A may emit RF power waves that are pocket-forming with apower capability from few watts to a predetermined number of wattsrequired by a particular chargeable electronic device. Each antenna maymanage a certain power capacity. Such power capacity may be related withthe application. In some embodiments, the one or more power sources 308may be a mechanical power source, such as a crank, a chemical powersource, such as a battery, or an electrical power source, such as acapacitor or a photovoltaic cell. In some embodiments, the proximitytransmitter 100 can be powered via mains electricity, such as via apower cord plugged into a wall outlet, which can be selectivelydetachable from the proximity transmitter 100 or be permanently attachedto the proximity transmitter 100.

In one method of operation, the transmitter 300A may transmit orotherwise broadcast controlled RF waves that converge at a location inthree-dimensional space, thereby forming the one or more pockets ofenergy 110. These RF waves may be controlled through phase and/orrelative amplitude adjustments to form constructive or destructiveinterference patterns (i.e., pocket-forming). The one or more pockets ofenergy 110 may be two or three-dimensional fields that are created byforming constructive interference patterns; whereas transmission nullsmay be a particular two or three-dimensional physical location that aregenerated by forming destructive interference patterns. Accordingly, areceiver may harvest electrical energy from the one or more pockets ofenergy 110 produced by pocket-forming for charging or powering a devicecoupled thereto.

In some embodiments, a communications component, as disclosed herein, isoptional, but when used, the communication component is powered via theone or more power sources 308 and can be used to identify a location ofthe receiver, such as via communicating with the receiver, such as via adirectional antenna. For example, the communications component can be achip or circuitry configured to communicate over a short rangecommunication protocol.

FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic diagram of a proximity transmitter 300Bcomprising or otherwise coupled to a communications component 307 and asensor 310, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.One skilled in the art would appreciate that communications component307 and the sensor 310 may be physically associated with the transmitter300B in any number of combinations, as the communications component 307and/or the sensor 310 may be connected to the proximity transmitter300B, or may be an integrated component of the proximity transmitter300B.

In some embodiments, the proximity transmitter 300B may comprise acommunications component 307, which may include integrated circuits andantennas configured to allow the proximity transmitter 300B tocommunicate with receivers or other devices using any number of wired orwireless protocols. Non-limiting examples of wired communications mayinclude Ethernet, USB, PCI, Firewire, and the like. Non-limitingexamples of wireless protocols may include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, ZigBee®,NFC, RFID, and the like. In operation, the communications component 307of the proximity transmitter 300B and a corresponding component of thereceiver or electronic device may exchange communications signalscontaining operational data related to wireless charging and generatingpower waves, including operational instructions, measurements, and/oroperational parameters. The controller 306 of the proximity transmitter300B may determine various modes of operation and/or how toappropriately generate and transmit power waves based on the operationaldata received by the communications component 307 via the communicationssignals.

As an example, the communications component 307 of the proximitytransmitter 300B may include a Bluetooth-enabled communications chip andantenna, which may communicate operational data with a receiver usingcommunications signals conforming to Bluetooth® technology andprotocols. In this example, the communications component 307 may detectthe presence of the receiver based on Bluetooth-based data packetsbroadcasted by the receiver, or the receiver may transmit a “wake up” or“turn on” command to the proximity transmitter 300B, which is capturedby the communications component 307 and send to the controller 306 ofthe proximity transmitter 300B which may in turn activate various powerwave generate routines. A processor or other component of the proximitytransmitter 300B may continuously monitor for signals triggeringproximity transmitter 300B operation (e.g., “wake up” or “turn on”signals), or may periodically poll for such signals. As the proximitytransmitter 300B may limit the distance at which the power waves mayeffectively charge the receiver, the communications component 307 maydetermine whether the receiver is within a threshold distance from theproximity transmitter 300B based on a signal strength of thecommunications signals or other parameters.

As another example, the communications component 307 of the proximitytransmitter 300B may include a Bluetooth-enabled communications chip andantenna, which may communicate operational data with a receiver usingcommunications signals conforming to Bluetooth® technology andprotocols. In this example, the communications component 307 may receivea number of operational parameters, such as a signal strength of thecommunications signals received from the receiver or an amount of power(e.g., voltage) being received by the receiver, to determine a locationof the receiver with respect to the proximity transmitter 300B. Thesevalues and/or the determined location of the receiver may then be usedby the proximity transmitter 300B to determine which, if any, antennas302 to activate, and/or the physical characteristics of the power waves(e.g., frequency, amplitude, power level).

The sensor 310 may receive raw sensor data from various types of sensorsand then sends the sensor data to the one or more controllers 306 of theproximity transmitter 300B. In some implementations, the sensor 310 orrelated processor may execute a number of pre-processing routines on theraw sensor data. As such, the term “sensor data” may be usedinterchangeably with “raw sensor data” as it should be appreciated thatthe sensor data is not limited to raw sensor data and can include datathat is processed by a processor associated with the sensor 310,processed by the transmitter 300B, or any other processor. The sensordata can include information derived from the sensor 310, and processedsensor data can include determinations based upon the sensor data.

In operation, the sensor data may help the transmitter 300B determinevarious modes of operation and/or how to appropriately generate andtransmit power waves, so that the transmitter 300B may provide safe,reliable, and efficient wireless power to the receiver. As detailedherein, the sensor 310 may transmit sensor data collected during sensoroperations for subsequent processing by a processor of the transmitter300B. Additionally or alternatively, one or more sensor processors maybe connected to or housed within the sensor 310. Sensor processors maycomprise a microprocessor that executes various primary data processingroutines, whereby the sensor data received at the transmitter processorhas been partially or completely pre-processed as useable mapping datafor generating power waves.

The sensor 310 can be optionally coupled to the one or more powersources 308. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor 310 can comprisea power source, such as a mechanical power source, such as a crank, achemical power source, such as a battery, or an electrical power source,such as a capacitor or a photovoltaic cell. For example, the housing 102can comprise the transmitter 300B, where the power source 308 is a firstpower source and the sensor 310 comprises a second power source, whetheridentical to or different from the first power source in power sourcemanner, with the second power source being comprised in the housing 102,whether internal to or external to the transmitter 300B. Alternativelyor additionally, the sensor 310 can operate without a power source, suchas via being passive. However, note that the sensor 310 can be a passivesensor or an active sensor.

The sensor 310 can be positioned in any part or anywhere on or in theproximity transmitter 100, whether unitary to or assembled therewith.For example, the housing 102 comprises at least one of the interiorspace, the sidewall 104, the top 106, or the bottom 108, where at leastone of the interior space, the sidewall 104, the top 106, or the bottom108 comprises the sensor 310. Alternatively the sensor can be positionedoutside the housing in another enclosure, and may be connected to thecontroller of the proximity transmitter 100 via a wired connection.

In some embodiments, the sensor 310 is configured to sense the device112. Such sensing can be in the local proximity of the housing 102, suchas within about twelve (12) inches or less from the housing 102.Accordingly, the sensor 310 can be a pressure sensor, a contact sensor,a thermal sensor, a static electricity sensor, a motion sensor, amagnetic sensor, or an electromagnetic spectrum sensor. Note that suchlisting is an example and other types of sensors can be usedadditionally or alternatively. For example, the sensor 310 can sense thedevice 112 placed on the housing 102 via a downward pressure of thedevice 112, such as via a weight of the device 112. For example, thesensor 310 can sense the device 112 via a contact of the device 112 withthe housing 102. For example, the sensor 310 can sense the device 112via a thermal signature or a thermal fingerprint from the device 112,such as via a heat emitted from a battery or a human hand heat remainingon the device 112 based on handling of the device 112. For example, thesensor 310 can sense a static electricity being emitted from orresulting from the device 112 being placed in proximity with orcontacting the housing 102. For example, the sensor 310 can sense amotion of the device 312 with respect to the housing 102 or a motionresulting from the device 312 with respect to the housing 102. Forexample, the sensor 310 can sense the device 112 via an electromagneticradiation being emitted from the device 112, such as a network signal,for instance a cellular signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a short rangetransmission protocol signal, or others. Note that a range oftransmission of the transmitter 300B and a range of sensing of thesensor 310 can be identical to or different from each other, whether ina dependent or an independent manner. In some embodiments, thetransmitter 300B is configured to transmit one or more power waves basedat least in part on the sensor 310 sensing the device. For example, whenthe sensor 310 senses the device 112, the sensor 310 communicates suchinformation to the controller 306, which in turn activates the one ormore RFICs 304 to emit one or more power waves via the one or moreantennas 302. For example, the transmitter 300B can comprise a sensorconfigured to determine a presence of a receiver on the surface layer.For example, the transmitter 300B can be configured to transmit powerwaves upon a receiver being placed upon the surface layer of the housing102, such via the sensor 310, which can sense or determine a presence ofa receiver on the surface layer of the housing 102. Note that suchsensing can occur without using the optional communications component,as disclosed herein.

In some embodiments the sensor may be configured to detect humans orother living beings such as pets by detecting the heat generated usingthermal sensors. This information may be used by the controller indeciding whether to transmit power transmission waves, whether to lowerthe transmit power, or it may be used to generate pockets of energy awayfrom the living being, and/or to generate transmission nulls inlocations of living beings in order to avoid sensing electromagneticwaves to that location.

Other types or configurations of sensors that can be used herewith aremore fully described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/861,285,filed on Sep. 22, 2015, entitled “Systems and Methods for IdentifyingSensitive Objects in a Wireless Charging Transmission Field,” which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the one or more controllers 306 can select whichantenna elements in the array of antenna elements 302 will transmit oneor more power waves, such as via smart dynamic antenna selection, suchas based on distance, transmission quality, or others. For example, theone or more controllers 306 can select which antenna elements 302 willtransmit one or more power waves based on information received from thesensor 310 or based on a detection of the receiver, such as via aplacement of the receiver onto the housing 102. For example, suchselection can be in an alternating manner, where a first antenna elementis used and a second antenna element is not used, and then based on anoccurrence of a certain condition, the first antenna element is notused, whereas the second antenna element is used.

FIG. 4A illustrates a flowchart of a method of operating a proximitytransmitter with a device sensor, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. A method 400A comprises a plurality of blocks402A-408A.

In block 402A, a receiver and associated electronic device may bepositioned in proximity of the proximity transmitter. In someembodiments, proximity may include placing the receiver on top of, orotherwise in direct contact with, the proximity transmitter. And in someinstances, proximity may include positioning the device within the localproximity of the proximity transmitter, such as within about twelve (12)inches of the proximity transmitter.

In block 404A, the communications component 307 of the proximitytransmitter may detect that the device is nearby or approaching based oncommunications signals received through a wired or wireless connection.The communications component may then determine whether the to begingenerating power waves, which antennas should generate the power waves,and/or the characteristics of the power waves. In some instances, thecontroller may use this data collected by the communications componentto determine whether the receiver has entered a threshold distance tobegin transmitting power waves. The controller may then determine whichantennas are generally proximate to or in contact with the receiver andthus which antennas should be activated.

In block 406A, the proximity transmitter may execute one or moreinstructions and/or determines transmission parameters based onoperation data received by the communications component, from thereceiver. For example, after the communications component detects orotherwise receives a wirelessly broadcasted data packet from thereceiver, the controller may automatically begin determining thelocation of the receiver, or may begin transmitting power waves. Asanother example, the proximity transmitter may begin determining thelocation of the receiver, or the distance of the receiver, based on thesignal strength of the communications signals or other data reportedfrom the receiver. The proximity transmitter may also begin determiningthe effective antennas and waveform characteristics to use whentransmitting power waves to the receiver.

In block 408A, the transmitter transmits one or more power waves to thedevice based on the operational data or operational parameters receivedby the communications component.

FIG. 4B illustrates a flowchart of a method of operating a proximitytransmitter with a living tissue sensor, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. A method 400A comprises aplurality of blocks 402A-408A.

In block 402B, the device is positioned in proximity of the proximitytransmitter. Such positioning can be on the proximity transmitter 100 orin the local proximity of the proximity transmitter, such as withinabout twelve (12) inches of the proximity transmitter.

In block 404B, the sensor of the proximity transmitter senses the livingbeings. For example, the sensor can be a pressure sensor, a contactsensor, a thermal sensor, a static electricity sensor, a motion sensor,or an electromagnetic spectrum sensor.

In block 406B, the sensor informs the transmitter of a presence of theliving beings. Such informing can be wired or wireless.

In block 408B, the transmitter controls the one or more RFICs 304 toemit away or around or in different direction or cease from emitting ornot emit one or more power waves via the one or more antennas such thatone or more power waves avoid the living beings. Therefore, thetransmitter operates such that the one or more pockets of energy avoidthe living beings based on being informed via the sensor.

FIG. 5 illustrates a proximity transmitter 100 comprising a sidewall 104with an antenna array, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The sidewall 104 of the housing 102 comprises the array ofantenna elements 114, which can operate as a single antenna. Suchconfiguration can be via the array of antenna elements 114 beingembedded in the sidewall 104 or coupled to the sidewall 104, which canbe removable, such as via mating or fastening. Note that more than onesidewall 104 can comprise the array of antenna elements 114, in anypermutation or combination. For example, opposing or adjacent sidewalls104 can comprise the array of antenna elements 114. The array of antennaelements 114 are part of the transmitter such that the array of antennaelements 114 transmit one or more RF waves, as described herein. The oneor more pockets of energy 110 may be a 3D field of energy that arecreated by forming constructive interference patterns where the powertransmission waves accumulate, around which one or more correspondingtransmission null in a particular physical location may be generated bydestructive interference patterns. A transmission null in a particularphysical location may refer to areas or regions of space where pocketsof energy do not form because of destructive interference patterns ofpower transmission waves.

In some embodiments, the bottom 108 of the housing 102 comprises thearray of antenna elements 114, which can operate as a single antenna.Such configuration can be via the array of antenna elements 114 beingembedded in the bottom 108 or coupled to the bottom 108, which can beremovably, such as via mating or fastening.

In some embodiments, the array of antenna elements 114 can be at leastpartially invisible, such as via being positioned underneath anoutermost surface of at least one of the bottom 108 or the sidewall 104.However, in some embodiments, the array of antenna elements 114 can beat least partially visible, such as via being positioned on top of theoutermost surface of at least one of the bottom 108 or the sidewall 104.

FIG. 6 illustrates a proximity transmitter transmitting one or morepower waves such that the one or more power waves converge in a threedimensional space to form one or more pockets of energy, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that the device 112is not centrally or specifically aligned/oriented/positioned on thehousing 102 to be wirelessly charged via the transmitter of theproximity transmitter 100. Rather, the device 112 can be positionedanywhere on the housing 102 to be wirelessly charged or in the localproximity of the housing 102 to be wirelessly charged, whether with ause of a sensor or communications component, or without the use of thesensor or communications component.

FIG. 7 shows a system 700 for wireless power charging according to anexemplary embodiment. In the exemplary system 700, the proximitytransmitter 701 may be a USB device that couples to a computer 703 orother type of computing device, and may provide wireless power to anelectronic device 705, which in the exemplary system 700 comprises anintegrated receiver component.

A proximity transmitter 701 may have nearly any form factor or shape. Inthe system 700 shown in FIG. 7, the proximity transmitter 700 may be aUSB device that couples to the computer 703 through a USB port. Theproximity transmitter 700 may be directly coupled to the computer 703,as the USB components and transmission components (e.g., antennas,integrated circuits, controller) are integrated into a common housing.However, in some embodiments, the transmission components may be in aseparate housing, such that a USB wire couples the proximity transmitter701 to the computer 703.

The proximity transmitter 701 may comprise any number of wirelesstransmission components, but may additionally or alternativelycapitalize on components of the computer 703. For example, the proximitytransmitter 701 may not comprise a communications component, but mayinstead communicate operational data with the receiver through thecomputer's communications components, such as the computer's Bluetooth®or Wi-Fi antennas, among others. The proximity transmitter 701 may alsodraw power from the computer 703 as a power source. It should beappreciated that the proximity transmitter 701 may be coupled to thecomputer 703 through any type of data port of a computing device 703that may facilitate wired data and/or power exchanges between theproximity transmitter 701 and the computing device 703, and should notbe considered to be limited solely to USB ports.

In some embodiments, the proximity transmitter 701 may comprise anantenna array underneath or on the top surface that may transmit powerwaves within an inch from the top surface of the proximity transmitter701. In such embodiments, the proximity transmitter 701 may function asa platform or stand for the electronic device 705, and the antennas maytransmit power waves to antennas of the receiver integrated into theelectronic device 705.

In some embodiment, the proximity transmitter 701 may comprise antennassituated along the sidewalls of the proximity transmitter 701, wherebythe antennas may transmit power waves to the receiver of an electronicdevice 705, in a direction other than or in addition to directly overtop of the proximity transmitter 701. Advantageously, this may allow theproximity transmitter to provide power to an electronic device 705situated nearby a proximity transmitter 701 and computing device 703,within a threshold distance of the proximity transmitter 701. In manycases, the proximity transmitter 701 may be configured with a thresholddistance may be within the range of about one millimeter to about twelveinches. One having skill in the art would appreciate that the thresholddistance may vary, and would not necessarily be limited to thesedistances. It should also be appreciated that the threshold distance inoperation is not always exact, as there may be some slight naturalvariation in waves received and identified by the communicationscomponents. The communications components of the proximity transmitter701 and the receiver may exchange communications signals to determinewhether the receiver of the electronic device 705 is within thethreshold distance to the proximity transmitter 701. For embodimentswhere the receiver is an integrated component of the electronic device705, like the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the communicationscomponent of the receiver may include one or more of the nativecommunications components of the electronic device 705. Similarly, insome embodiments, the proximity transmitter 701 may use one or morecommunications components native to the computing device 703.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are enlarged, perspective views of the exemplaryproximity transmitter 701 shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8A shows additionaldetails for the proximity transmitter 701, including an interface 803and a protective cap 805. FIG. 8B shows an optional product form factorin which a cap 805 may be placed over the interface 803 to protect theoperations of the interface 803.

The interface 803 of the exemplary transmitter 701 is a “male” USBinterface that allows the proximity transmitter to connect to any hostdevice, such as a computer, through a corresponding USB port, eitherdirectly through a corresponding “female” USB interface on the hostdevice or indirectly through a “female” to “male” connector. In someimplementations, the proximity transmitter 701 may draw power throughthe port connection from the host device, using the host device as apower source. In some implementations, the proximity transmitter 701 maytransmit data and/or instructions related to the operation of the powertransmitter 701. In some cases, in order to communicate data and/orinstructions, the proximity transmitter 701 may upload and installpre-stored drivers or other software modules to the electronic device,or may instruct the host device to download such drivers or software.One having skill in the art would recognize that the interface 803 maybe of any interface type and corresponding port that would allow theproximity transmitter 701 to draw power from the host device and/orwould allow the proximity transmitter 701 and host device to exchangeoperational data and/or operational instructions. Non-limiting examplesof the types of interfaces 803 and corresponding ports and protocolsallowing peripheral devices to interchangeably connect with host devicesmay include: Firewire, Thunderbolt, PCI, Ethernet, and the like.Furthermore, the proximity transmitter 701 may operate by interfacingwith computing devices of different operating systems, processors, orperipherals. This may involve installing or downloading drivers (e.g.,software modules) that configure such devices to communicate with theproximity transmitter 701.

FIG. 9 shows components of a proximity transmitter 900 device, accordingto an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary proximity transmitter 900 maycomprise a heat sink 901, array of one or more antennas (antenna array903), and one or more circuit boards 905. The circuit boards 905 maycomprise any number of circuits, antennas, processors, or othercomponents capable of performing the various tasks described herein. Forexample, the circuit boards 905 may include a controller that managesoperation of the proximity transmitter 900, such as determining which,if any, antennas of an antenna array 903 should be transmitting powerwaves, and the characteristics of those power waves. As another example,the one or more circuit boards 905 may include a communicationscomponent, such as a Bluetooth® chip and associated antenna, allowingthe proximity transmitter to detect receivers, determine whetherreceivers are within a proximity threshold, and/or to exchangeoperational data with receivers through some wired-based or wirelesscommunications protocol. It should be understood that additional oralternative components may be included on the one or more circuit boards905 of the exemplary proximity transmitter 900.

An antenna array 903 may comprise one or more antennas of one or moreantenna types, each configured to transmit power waves generated bycircuits, such as waveform generators, of a circuit board 905. In somecases, the antenna array 903 may transmit the power waves such that thepower waves generate constructive interference patterns at some area infront of the antennas, and within some proximity of the proximitytransmitter 900. In some cases, rather than directing the power waves tosome convergence point, the antenna array 903 may transmit the powerwaves as a collection of power waves originating from one or more of theantennas. As an example, in some circumstances there may not be enoughdistance between the antennas and the receiver to allow the power wavesto converge at a particular point, or the antennas may not be configuredto adjust the vectors of the power waves, and so a subset of antennas infront of, or in contact with, the receiver may be selected to transmitpower waves as a collection of power waves. In some embodiments and insimilar circumstances, the antenna array 903 may be slightly concavewith respect to a housing surface covering the antenna array 903, andthus the power waves may be generally transmitted at slightly acuteangles with respect a middle axis of the antenna array 903, as opposedto alternative embodiments where the antennas are situated parallel tothe housing surface covering the antenna array 903.

A heat sink 901 may be a metal construct or other material that mayalleviate the amount of heat generated by components of the proximitytransmitter 900 during operation. In some circumstances, but not always,a proximity transmitter 900 may generate heat due to the electricalcurrent fed through the circuitry from a power source; this heat mighteventually damage components of the transmitter 900, such as thecircuitry on the boards 905. The heat sink 901 may be a permanent ordetachable component, and may comprise metal, ceramic or other material,configured to dissipate the heat generated by the proximity transmitter900 components.

FIG. 10 shows a wireless charging system 1000, according to an exemplaryembodiment. The exemplary system 1000 may comprise the exemplaryproximity transmitter 900 shown in FIG. 9, and an electronic device1001. The proximity transmitter 900 may be the product of assembling thecomponents shown in FIG. 9, as well as any number of additional oralternative components. The electronic device 1001 may be any devicerequiring electric energy and capable of being coupled to or comprisinga receiver. In the exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 1001 maybe smartphone comprising an integrated receiver.

In operation, the proximity transmitter 900 may detect the presence ofthe electronic device when the proximity transmitter 900 receives one ormore wireless communications signals, such as Bluetooth® or Wi-Fisignals. Based on operational data received in the communicationssignals, such as signal strength, response time, or some other locationdata indicating the location and/or proximity of the electronic device1001, the proximity transmitter 900 may determine whether the electronicdevice is within a proximity threshold distance from the antenna array.Additionally or alternatively, the proximity transmitter may comprise asensor, such as a capacitive sensor to sense presence of the electronicdevice, magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetic waves produced by theelectronic device 1001 or a pressure sensor, used to determine aproximity threshold or to determine that the electronic device is incontact with the exterior housing of the proximity transmitter 900. Whenthe proximity transmitter 900 determines that the receiver is within thethreshold proximity or is in contact with the proximity transmitter 900may generate and transmit power waves. In some cases, the proximitytransmitter 900 may identify a subset of antennas for transmitting powerwaves. This may be advantageous in circumstances where the electronicdevice 1001 does not cover the entire antenna array. This may also beadvantageous in circumstances where the proximity transmitter 900comprises antenna arrays directed outward in different directions of theproximity transmitter 900, thus power transmitter 900 may identify whichantenna array to activate based on where the electronic device islocated with respect to the proximity transmitter 900.

In some implementations, a receiver, such as the receiver integratedinto the electronic device 1001, may be relocated away from theproximity transmitter 900, but may then switch to receiving power wavesfrom non-proximity transmitters (not shown), which may be transmitterdevices configured to transmit power waves into a transmission field,but without the proximity limitations of a proximity transmitter 900.Descriptions and examples of non-proximity transmitters may be found inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/860,991, filed Sep. 22, 2015,entitled “Systems and Methods for Generating and TransmittingWirelessPower Transmission Waves,” which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety. In such implementations, when the electronicdevice 1001 is moved away from the proximity of the proximitytransmitter 900, or when some other operational condition is violated(e.g., a person's hand is detected between the electronic device 1001and the antenna array of the proximity transmitter 900), the electronicdevice 1001 may then communicate with a non-proximity transmitter. Whenthe electronic device 1001 enters the transmission field of thenon-proximity transmitter, and when any operational conditions aresatisfied (e.g., the person is not within a threshold distance to thepower waves of the non-proximity transmitter), the receiver of theelectronic device may then begin receiving power waves from thenon-proximity transmitter. Conversely, when an electronic device 1001receiving wireless power from a non-proximity transmitter is movedwithin proximity parameters (e.g., proximity threshold) of a proximitytransmitter 900, the receiver of the electronic device 1001 maydiscontinue receiving power from the non-proximity transmitter and startreceiving power from the proximity transmitter 900. Furthermore, in someembodiments, a receiver may receive power from both a non-proximitytransmitter and a proximity transmitter 900 at the same time. In suchembodiments, the energy pocket formed at or about the receiver is acombination of the energy pocket created by the non-proximitytransmitter as well as the pocket of energy created by the proximitytransmitter. Additional descriptions and examples of receivers receivingpower from one or more transmitters may be found in U.S. Provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 62/387,466, entitled “Cluster Management ofTransmitters in a Wireless Power Transmission System,” filed on Dec. 24,2015.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects andembodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and arenot intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit beingindicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless charging proximity transmittercomprising: an array of one or more antennas; and a surface layerproximate to the array of antennas, wherein: the proximity transmitteris configured to transmit power waves to a receiver in response to adevice associated with the receiver being within a proximity thresholdof the surface layer of the proximity transmitter; and the power wavesconverge to form a constructive interference pattern within about twelveinches of the surface layer of the proximity transmitter.
 2. Theproximity transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the proximitytransmitter is further configured to transmit the power waves to thereceiver upon the device associated with the receiver being placed onthe surface layer.
 3. The proximity transmitter according to claim 1,wherein when the device is positioned on the surface layer: theproximity transmitter is configured to select a subset of the antennasof the array to use to transmit the power waves to the receiverassociated with the device that is positioned on the surface layer. 4.The proximity transmitter according to claim 3, wherein the subset ofthe antennas of the array that is used to transmit the power waves tothe receiver are directly below the receiver.
 5. The proximitytransmitter according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor configuredto determine whether the device associated with the receiver ispositioned on the surface layer.
 6. The proximity transmitter accordingto claim 5, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting ofa pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a contact sensor, a thermalsensor, a static electricity sensor, a motion sensor, and anelectromagnetic spectrum sensor.
 7. The proximity transmitter accordingto claim 5, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a living being ina proximity to the proximity transmitter, and wherein the proximitytransmitter is further configured to cease transmitting the power wavesupon the sensor sensing the living being within the proximity to theproximity transmitter.
 8. The proximity transmitter according to claim5, wherein the sensor is a passive sensor.
 9. The proximity transmitteraccording to claim 5, wherein the sensor is an active sensor.
 10. Theproximity transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the power wavescomprise radio frequency waves.
 11. The proximity transmitter accordingto claim 1, wherein the power waves comprise ultrasound waves.
 12. Awireless charging proximity transmitter comprising: a housingcomprising: an upper surface layer; a lower surface layer; at least oneside wall extending from the lower surface layer to the upper surfacelayer; an array of one or more antennas positioned between the lowersurface layer and the upper surface layer; and a controller configuredto transmit power waves from the array of one or more antennas so thatthe power waves converge at a location of a device associated with areceiver upon identifying the device within a proximity threshold from aportion of the upper surface layer of the proximity transmitter, whereinthe converging power waves form a constructive interference patternwithin about twelve inches of the upper surface layer of the proximitytransmitter.
 13. The proximity transmitter according to claim 12,wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the power wavesto the receiver upon the device associated with the receiver beingplaced on the upper surface layer.
 14. The proximity transmitteraccording to claim 12, wherein when the device is positioned on thesurface layer: the proximity transmitter is configured to select asubset of the antennas of the array to use to transmit the power wavesto the receiver associated with the device that is positioned on theupper surface layer.
 15. The proximity transmitter according to claim14, wherein the subset of the antennas of the array that is used totransmit the power waves to the receiver associated with the device onthe upper surface layer are directly below the receiver.
 16. Theproximity transmitter according to claim 12, further comprising a sensorconfigured to determine the presence of the device associated with thereceiver on the upper surface layer.
 17. The proximity transmitteraccording to claim 16, wherein the sensor is a passive sensor.
 18. Theproximity transmitter according to claim 16, wherein the sensor is anactive sensor.
 19. The proximity transmitter according to claim 16,wherein the sensor is configured to sense a living being in a proximityto the proximity transmitter, and wherein the proximity transmitter isfurther configured to cease transmitting the power waves upon the sensorsensing the living being within the proximity.
 20. The proximitytransmitter according to claim 16, wherein the sensor is selected fromthe group consisting of a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a contactsensor, a thermal sensor, a static electricity sensor, a motion sensor,and an electromagnetic spectrum sensor.
 21. The proximity transmitteraccording to claim 12, wherein the power waves comprise radio frequencywaves.
 22. The proximity transmitter according to claim 12, wherein thepower waves comprise ultrasound waves.
 23. The proximity transmitteraccording to claim 12, wherein a shape of the proximity transmitter isselected from the group consisting of a circle, a rectangle, a square, atriangle, an octagon, and an oval.
 24. The proximity transmitteraccording to claim 12, wherein the array of antennas is arranged in aplane parallel to the lower surface layer or the upper surface layer.25. The proximity transmitter according to claim 12, wherein the arrayof antennas is arranged in a non-planar fashion forming a threedimensional placement of antennas inside the housing.